Day 9 & 10 25th & 26th April 2024.
Mettmetstetten and Lucerne, Switzerland to Lake Maggiore, Italy
We had arranged to meet Andrew and Jane in the services just after the Gotthard Tunnel. You may remember we went through it last year but in reverse. From Switzerland to Italy side the traffic was just right, we were able to stay at a good speed of 60kmph.
It takes about 15-20mins and just seems to go on forever.
If travelling the other way, from Italy to Switzerland there was a queue, meaning the traffic management system was in operation. There are sets of lights at different stages where you have to wait. It is effective and means that jams don’t occur in the tunnel, god forbid 
. We have a feeling the extra traffic was also due to a lot of the other passes being shut due to snowfall.
The Lucerne visitors arrived about half an hour after us and, once we’d had a tea and wee break, we set off for Lake Maggiore.
The scenery, as you can guess was amazing. So much snow still about on the hills and mountains.
Heading for an ACSI campsite we had used last year took us along the waterside of the Lake called Camping Orchidea.
Gareth asked me why I was being jumpy, you’re not on the lakeside of the road, he said. I said I know, but I am near the rocks and vegetation jutting out though! He tried to give a little more room on my side where he could. It is a hairy ride, not the hairiest we’ve encountered but close .
Finally, we arrived in Feriolo and turned into the campsite.
Yes, they had room for us and we chose two pitches on the lake front. There’s a little dog beach and separate human beach, useful when the weather improves obviously 
. It is still flipping cold! We settled in, had sausage and mash for dinner and booked a boat trip to a few islands for tomorrow.
26th April
This morning we woke to rain. It sounded worse inside the van but we still dressed for inclement weather. We had to be at the ferry pier at 9.30am! Blimey, I thought we were on holiday! This is the 3rd time I’ve had to set an alarm in 9 days 
.
The dogs were unsure getting on to the boat. Marley settled really quickly – he’s so nosy he whiles away the time staring at everyone and everything 
. Meg turned into a wuss, shaking and lip licking, which normally means sick is on its way, but, thankfully, she survived.
(Oh yes, I forgot to mention that I dressed her in her equafleece jumper today and I’m not sure she’s forgiven me yet .)
Anyway, the boat trip is for the Isola Borromean – a group of 3 islands in the lake. Isola Pescatori, Isola Bella and Isola Madre, all are very pretty, plus an extra visit to the mainland town at Stresa for the market. The market was mainly clothing and household but we did pick up some lovely blue goatsmilk cheese and a crusty loaf for later 
.
The rain was still light, so we kept our visits to the minimum, the boats were hop on-hop off which was great. If we ever come back this way, we’ll definitely do this trip again, at €20 it is certainly worth it.
On the return leg, we got off the boat at Stresa and walked back, which was about 8km, stopping halfway at Baveno for pizza and a beer. There were lots of beautiful properties along the way, you miss these if you drive as the walking route is off of the main road.
We’ve been totally lazy tonight and had more pizza from the campsite restaurant for dinner! We had been sat outside under the awning but it got too cold and the rain got heavier.
So, We might stay another day here, we’ll see how we feel tomorrow. Night all.
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